Bow-facing oar



(No Model.)

B. Fg' KIMSEY. Bow Mollie.oml`

No. 525,269. Patented Aug. 28, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT' Genion.

BENJAMIN F. KIMSEY, ,OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

BOW-FACING OAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,269, dated August28, 1894.

Application filed October 2'7, 1893. Serial No. 489,332. (No model.)

To @Z5 whom t may concern.-

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN F. KIMSEY, residing at Terre Haute, in thecounty of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented anew and ImprovedBow-Facing Oar, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularlyto improvements in rowing devicesfor skiffs and other small boats, and it has for its object to provide asimple and effective rowing mechanism so constructed and arranged thatthe rower can sit facing the bow of the boat as he manipulates suchmechanism. I

It has also for its object to provide amechf anism of this character inwhich the propelling blades can be folded up closely to the sides` ofthe boat or the same readily detached from its guards or supports whendesired.

With other minor objects in view which will hereinafter be referred to,my invention consists in such combination and novel arrange-V ment ofparts, hereinafter first described in detail and then speciiicallypointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view illustrating myinvention as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of thegear mechanism and the guard and bearing devices therefor, and Fig. 3 isa plan view ot' the same, the

blade and handle portionsbeing shown thrown in, in dotted lines.

My improved rowing mechanism comprises a divided propelling blade or oarprovided with a gear connection, whereby the blade portion will bereciprocated in the same directions to the movements of the handleportion, such divided oar member being pivotally journaled on thegunwale guide or support, Whereby its ends are adapted for verticalmovement for a purpose presently explained.

Referring now tothe drawings, A indicates the boat and B the gunwale,upon which is secured the guide or lock members C. These guide members Cin the practical construction may be formed of any suitably arrangedhorizontal guide rail mechanism held a short distance above the gunwale;I prefer however to employ a guide rail like that shown in the drawings(the detail construction of which will be presently described) for apurpose hereinafter explained.

The propelling blade or'oar consists of a handle portion proper D, ablade portion D, the intermediate gears d d and a connecting plate'E,which is supported on the bailC for an oscillating or rocking motion, aswill be clearly understood from Fig.2 of the drawings. By/referencetosuch Fig. 2 it will be noticed that the connecting plate has a socket eformed preferably integral therewith as shown, which fits onto the bailmember c, and its ends extended as at e through which pass stud pivotsF, on the lower'endsy of which are pivoted the gears d d', which areheld in place by nuts as indicated in Fig.'3; the gears d d beingsecured to the oar sections D and D by dowel pins or otherwise, to turntherewith.

So far as described it will be noticed that when the handle member ismoved in the direction indicated by the arrow No. 1 toward the oarsman,the outer or blade section will also be moved in a direction toward suchoarsman, as indicated by arrow No. 2. pelling or blade section can beoperated by the back pull of 'the oarsmamas he sits facing the bow asshown in Fig. l. By pivoting the connecting blade E in the mannerstated, the oar sections are held to be oscillated or rocked on theirlock bearing, which enables the oarsman to raise and lower the blade outThus the proof, or into the water in the usual manner,v

such result being effected in a simple and inexpensive manner.

To provide for a longitudinal. adjustment of the oar on its lock orguide whereby to adjust it conveniently to the arm lengths of dierentpersons, the guide C is made of a greater length than the connecting orrocker plate E, to allow such plate to be shifted on the guide, to orfrom the oarsman as desired.

As before stated the guide may be in the nature of a simple guide rail,I prefer however to construct it of a rail portion proper c and a footportion c pivotally connected to the gunwale whereby such member can beswung laterally.

It will be noticed that by providing a pivoted guide, the rocker plateEcan be quickly slid onto or off the guide, to permit the oars beingreadily detached from the boat when desired. To hold the guide in placea keeper G is securedto the gunwale, having aslot or way g through whichthe end of the guide C ICO 1. A propelling mechanism for small boats, i

comprising an oar formed in two sections, having gears at their adjacentends held to mesh, a bearing member joining said gears, and a supportingguide secured to the boat, said bearing member being held on the saidguide for a rocking movement and adapted to be moved laterally thereon,all arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. A propelling mechanism for small boats, comprising a sectionalpropelling member or oar, the sections having gear connections, aconnecting plate having stud bolts or pivots adapted to receive thegears of such gear con nections, said plate having an eye portion, andaguide rail adapted to be secured to the boat, and to form a bearingmember to receive such eye portion, all substantially as shown and forthe purposes described.

5. An improved propelling mechanism for small boats, comprising a guide`rail,a socket plate longitudinally movable and held to rock thereon,said plate having projecting portions formed with stud bolts, gears journaled thereon and held to mesh, and oar sections secured to the saidgears to turn therewith, all arranged substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. In a propelling mechanism for small boats, in combination, a guide orlock member having a pivotal connection with the boat, and a free endadapted to be swung outward, and a divided oar having gear connections,ajoinder plate forming a bearing for its gears, such plate having asocket portion adapted to be slipped onto the free end of the guide, anda keeper for such guide to receive and lock the free end in place, allarranged substantially as shown and described.

5. As an improvement in propelling mechanisms for small boats, thecombination with the laterally movable guide C, and the keeper G, ot'the connecting plate E, mounted to rock on such guide C, said platehaving apertured projecting members e', the bolts F held therein, gearsd CZ journaled on such bolts, and the oar sections D D secured to suchgears d d all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposedescribed.

BENJAMIN F. KIMSEY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE C. DoDsoN, HARRISON SMITH.

